A Senate Perk: Unlimited Sick Leave

By tradition, senators can take months—even years—to recover from anything from a heart attack to a broken hip to a beating. Five examples follow.

by Quinn Ford

The Political Consequences of Mark Kirk’s Stroke

KIRK AND CONSEQUENCES: Gauging the impact of a senator’s absence—now and after November

by Carol Felsenthal

Hot Seats in Illinois’s Remap

The state’s mashup has created some intriguing 2012 matchups

by Jeff Cao

Da Mare’s Expense Account

EXPENSE THIS!: Richard M. Daley may be out of politics, but his old campaign account is still going

by Michael Solomon

Charting Obama’s New Campaign Team

OBAMALAND REDUX: A look at new faces in new places as the president gears up for November

by David Bernstein

Jodi Kantor Goes Inside the Obamas’ Marriage in New Book

INSIDE THE EAST WING: A new book pulls back the curtains on the First Couple

by Carol Felsenthal

The Continuing Adventures of Former Mayor Richard M. Daley

by Paul Hornschemeier

Scott Lee Cohen: The Exit Interview

In one of the strangest primary elections in recent memory, Scott Lee Cohen's saga stands out as the strangest. And he's got a lot to say about it.

by David Bernstein

The Coronation

Todd Stroger’s reign as county board president has been marred by chaos, scandal, and deeply unpopular decisions. Here’s the story behind the maneuvering that elevated a political lightweight...

by David Bernstein

Bridge to Nowhere

If you think stimulus spending on infrastructure is going to shorten your commute, you’re in the wrong lane.

by Katherine Hajduch